Philadelphia schools may not open next month unless city provides $50 million in aid

The Philadelphia School District may not open schools Sept. 9 unless it has assurances by Aug. 16 that it will receive $50 million from the city, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. says. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the district might delay opening all 220 district schools, open just a few or operate them on half-day schedules because of the continuing financial crisis. Following Hite's threat, Mayor Michael Nutter pressed City Council to immediately approve an extended sales tax increase through the middle of 2015 so that city schools open on schedule next month.